Imagine a high school teacher having to separate a smooching pair outside the classroom door to protect herself from being sued for condoning “gateway sexual activity.” Envision a sex education class where the mention of homosexuality is forbidden by law and discussion of contraception, or even puberty, is deemed unnecessary.

That’s the world that would be created by a recent raft of abstinence education bills in Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin. These initiatives are frightening — but, viewed the right way, they shine light on extreme conservatives’ deepest, darkest fears about sex. They’re veritable inkblot tests for right-wing sexual pathos.

This seems to be the real hallmark about the fringes of the Right, which is a deeply rooted fear that somebody somewhere is having a good time. What they don’t grasp is that what education is all about is empowering students with the information they need to deal with the real world.

A real world where:

- various different expressions of sexuality exist,

-where teens find out about sex on their own if nobody will talk to them about it,

- where teens have sex whether it’s a good idea or not, and

- where the consequences of irreponsible behaviour can and often does result in unwanted pregnancies (With all the baggage which comes with the deal) and

- where the consequences of irresponsible and reckless behaviours can be damaging and even deadly.

Ignorance is not bliss.

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Question authority and think for yourself. Big Brother does not know best and never has.